Respect Deekshabhoomi sentiment: Cong

Nagpur: MPCC president Nana Patole urged the Maharashtra govt to honour the sentiments of crores of people who associate themselves with Deekshabhoomi, and said, “Public emotions should take precedence over construction projects.” His remarks were directed at recent govt’s actions that he believes jeopardize the sanctity of this revered site, accusing the administration of prioritizing development over public sentiments.
Addressing the media in Nagpur on Saturday, Patole said Deekshabhoomi is a sacred site associated with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy which holds immense significance for countless followers. “Deekshabhoomi is not just a physical location but a spiritual symbol for millions of people. Any attempt to alter its structure or use it for development projects disrespects these deep-rooted feelings,” he said.
The MPCC chief criticized deputy CM and home minister Devendra Fadnavis over “the state’s deteriorating law and order situation”. He mentioned Friday incident in Pune where an intoxicated man attempted to set a woman traffic police constable on fire. “The state of law and order under Fadnavis is such that even the police are not safe,” Patole said.
The Sakoli MLA accused PM Narendra Modi of being a leader of corrupt politicians, referring to the recent exoneration of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikar by Mumbai police. Waikar, who was under investigation for corruption, was cleared after joining the BJP, a move Patole referred to as the “BJP washing machine.”
Patole argued that central agencies like the ED and CBI are manipulated for political gains. “Waikar’s clean chit was a predictable outcome of his alignment with the ruling party,” he remarked, condemning the practice of using political power to absolve individuals of corruption charges.
He accused the Mahayuti govt of failing to address the alleged “VIP treatment” to jail inmates and leniency shown towards wealthy offenders, citing Nagpur Ram Jhula accident case where police allegedly protected the accused woman hailing from a wealthy family in an accident which claimed two young lives.
Patole reaffirmed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition’s commitment to contesting the upcoming elections together. “We are united in our efforts for the upcoming elections, and our coalition is working towards a merit-based alliance with a demand for all 288 seats.”
He condemned the Eknath Shinde government’s handling of healthcare and education, referring to the recent death of a seven-year-old girl in Latur as evidence of systemic failures. “Healthcare and education are severely neglected under the current government. Schools are shutting, and essential healthcare services are lacking,” he said.
He criticized the government’s approach to recruitment, alleging that promises of filling one lakh posts have been marred by corruption and irregularities. “The current administration claims to address the issue of vacant posts but fails to provide transparency.”